Echoes of the past

Are the good times ready to roll?

Blues went up to eighth in the Premier League, even if it was only for 48 hours, after the defeat of Wigan Athletic.

It was their highest position since April, 2004 ( Blues were seventh in September, 2004, but that was after only three games of the season).

Back in 2003-04, Blues got the ball rolling with eight clean sheets in the first 10 games. They rose as high as fourth and, after 27 games, were still in fifth place.

They tailed off - losing three and drawing five of their last eight matches - and finished 10th.

That campaign, Blues were similar to as they are now.

Maik Taylor was a reliable presence in goal, he was at the top of his game.

Kenny Cunningham and Matthew Upson were the defensive lynchpins, Robbie Savage and Stephen Clemence worked the engine room, Mikael Forssell scored 17 times.

Although Christophe Dugarry was winding down his Blues stint, he still contributed, as did Stan Lazaridis, David Dunn, Clinton Morrison Damien Johnson and Jamie Clapham.

The base of the team was settled. It was well organised, disciplined and although pretty much no frills, Blues were highly effective. There remained a feel good factor too, after the first season in the Premier League.

Even though they ran out of steam, that 10 place finish represented Blues best in 31 years.

Steve Bruce only bought Martin Taylor in the January window and during the summer Mario Melchiot, Emile Heskey, Jesper Gronkjaer, Muzzy Izzet and Julian Gray arrived.

Blues were ready to take the next step, we all thought. The good times were ready to roll.

We all know what happened another year or so down the line.

So Alex McLeish is right when he preaches caution and urges his team not to get carried away. The players are on message too, as Sebastian Larsson has stressed.

However, Blues should not be so modest to think that it's a flash in the pan, that they should be down in the lower reaches where people like, say, Mick McCarthy and Adrian Chiles, expect them to be. I mean, how dare they - Birmingham - think they can have a nibble at Europa Cup qualification.

The good run Blues are enjoying (well spotted, Alan Shearer) in on the way to matching the eight-game unbeaten stretch in January/February of 2004.

The team has a balance, just like back then, it is more or less settled and the esprit de corps among management and players has not been as good since . . . well, those early Premier League days.

Blues great strength lies, again, in a defensive resilience. Not just from the back four, but the conscientious work of the midfield (and yes, that includes James McFadden).

Arguably, Blues are playing more football than they did in 2003-04, they are happy to take and pass the ball with care and construct moves, and up front there is dynamism when Cameron Jerome and Christian Benitez are prodded to remember what they are good at.

Yet Blues do not possess a Forssell, a reliable, regular goalscorer. And the ball doesn't stick up top as well as it might. There isn't a natural wide man, like Lazaridis, or a mercurial Dugarry or Dunn.

And the options, should injuries bite, are not plentiful. That's why Eck has to bring in players in January.

But there are plenty of reasons to be cheerful, to be optimistic.

New owners are in and are desperate - yes, desperate - to spend money on the team.

Look at their enthusiasm and joy in the picture here when the whistle went at Wigan. It shows no sign of letting up. Incidentally, you can see McLeish's wife, Jill and son, John (with beard) just as wrapped up in it all.

There is a good platform to build on and, given the right players, continuation of the current attitude and a bit of luck, Blues should get better.

The Premier League this season isn't one to lose sleep over.

And Blues have never been duffed up or given the impression of being out of their depth.

Remember Fulham two years ago, when they were battling with Blues to avoid relegation? The next season they finished seventh and are now enjoying European nights down at Craven Cottage, as well as relative security as an established top-flight side, under the shrewd guidance of Roy Hodgson, a McLeish-style manager.

Why can't Blues follow the same path? They have to aim higher than being a yo-yo club and continue to be confident about themselves, without being arrogant or complacent.